In 1983, young Hideki Anno had just completed a masterpiece promo for the 22nd DAICON Nihon SF Taikai, an event centered on anime and SF.

That work went on to be known as the DAICON IV video.

This, and the preceding DAICON III, were the first works done by a new and talented group of animators who would go on to become Gainax Studios.

Now the feature can be enjoyed in HD remastered goodness:

If one were to have purchased a Laserdisc copy of the films when they were released for sale in 1988, it would have cost approximately $200, but is now valued at over $1,500 or more (admittedly not the best of such investments, but good nonetheless).

Because of brand use infringements (most notably the DAICON girl’s Playboy bunny outfit) and the unauthorized soundtrack featuring music by Electric Light Orchestra, Gainax was not actually allowed to sell the video disc, so it was bundled as a free bonus with a book, featuring line-art from the making of the videos and other behind-the-scenes material.

This art is visible below:

The Laserdisc also contained a short animatic from the DAICON III film, featured in the video above.

While the A-side of the disc featured the animations, the reverse side had an additional film shot in live action by the Gainax crew. The film, Revenge of Yamata Orochi: the Eight-Headed Serpent, was screened as an opening video in one of the earlier conventions.

Alongside Laserdisc, the film also was released in Betamax, both of which were quite popular video formats in late eighties Japan.

The DAICON IV movie has been mentioned, parodied, or alluded to in a number of different ways since its release two decades ago:

In the infamous Otaku no Video, DAICON IVis mentioned as a major event in anime history.

In episode five of FLCL, the character Haruko rides a guitar through the sky in a bunny-costume, and even yells out, “DAICON V!”

In the recent Japanese dorama, Densha Otoko, the anime character Mina, created for the series, is a direct parody of the main character of the DAICON film. The opening theme is also a modern remake of the film.

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In case you were wondering, a daikon is a Japanese radish, hence the reason for the taproot-inspired design for the spaceship featured in the videos and drawings…

Grammar Nazi nitpick: the DAICON III video is not a prequel to the DAICON IV video. The proper use of “prequel” is for a LATER-produced volume that is SET earlier in the time-line of the series – it is NOT simply the opposite of sequel (in fact, a prequel is a TYPE of sequel). The Star Wars prequels, for instance, are true prequels. To use “prequel” to mean an antecedent volume is incorrect, though a fairly common mistake.

The visions dancing in my mind
The early dawn, the shades of time
Twilight crawling through my windowpane
Am I awake or do I dream?
The strangest pictures I have seen
Night is day and twilights gone away

With your head held high and your scarlet lies
You came down to me from the open skies
Its either real or its a dream
Theres nothing that is in between…

Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
Twilight, I gave you time to steal my mind
Away from me.

Across the night I saw your face
You disappeared without a trace
You brought me here, but can you take me back?
Inside the image of your light
That now is day and once was night
You lead me here and then you go away.

Its either real or its a dream
Theres nothing that is in between…

Twilight, I gave you time to steal my mind
Away from me.

(you brought me here, but can you take me back again? )

With your head held high and your scarlet lies
You came down to me from the open skies

Its either real or its a dream
Theres nothing that is in between…

Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
Twilight, I gave you time to steal my mind
Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
Twilight, twilight, twilight, twilight.

Today was the first time I noticed the bunny girl sweats after she throws Dynaman up and over her head, the first time I could really see pick people out of the montage at the end…

It’s not perfect, but it is a stunning improvement in most areas. I suspect the artifacts and grain that is left is probably lasting from the quality of the source material. I still applaud the effort.

Neat! I imagine they’re making enough bank that they could buy whatever rights stood between them and a DVD re-release today, what with Yoko from Gurren Lagann having her own single. And the merchandise from Neon Something-Or-Other.